What to Expect from Your Hardwood Flooring Project
Floor work takes over the house for a week. Here’s what that week actually looks like so nothing surprises you.
1. Consultation and Booking
- It starts with a call to Ken. He’ll ask about the rooms, how you use them, what’s wrong with the floor, and what you’re picturing. He’ll give you a rough cost and timeline from that, and he isn’t in a hurry to book a visit until it makes sense.
- Then an in-home visit to measure, check moisture, and go over the scope: repairs, tying new floor into old, refinishing, or maintenance. You get one written proposal.
- You’re on the schedule when you accept the quote and pay the deposit.
2. Preparing Your Home
- Clear the Area: Move all furniture, wall-hanging decorations (which can fall due to machine vibrations), low-hanging drapes or curtains, and valuables from work and access areas, including floor space inside closets. We can recommend trusted local furniture movers.
- Access: Our truck parks in your driveway for the length of the job. Our big sander needs a 240V outlet, usually the one behind the range or dryer, and we’ll need to get to the electrical panel.
- Water Access: Provide a hose spigot or slop sink for cleaning tools. Let us know if access is limited.
- Kids and pets: The crew arrives between 8 and 9 depending on the drive. Keep kids and pets out of the work area during the day. The finishes are low-odor and we run ventilation, but if you’re sensitive to smells, plan to be out on finishing days. Working from home during sanding isn’t realistic; it’s loud all day.
3. The Flooring Work
- Installation: About a week for most jobs under 1,000 square feet. Wood is delivered early so it can acclimate to your house. We can lace new boards into existing floor so the seam disappears. Site-finished wood gives you a custom color; prefinished means no sanding in the house.
- Refinishing: About a week for most jobs under 1,000 square feet. Before we start, Ken will have talked color with you and we’ll put one to five stain samples on your prepped floor so you can choose in your own light. If you don’t pick, we go natural. Finishes are water-based and low-VOC.
- Deep clean and recoat: One to two days for 1,000 square feet. Same cleared-room requirements, far less noise and dust.
- Quality control: Larry runs the site. The crew works from an inspection checklist, takes moisture readings throughout, and keeps the house at 70 to 75 degrees and 30 to 50 percent humidity while finish cures. We photograph and log every job, materials included, so future repairs or additions match.
4. After the Project
- Walk on the floor in socks after 5 hours. Furniture back after 24 hours; lift it into place, don’t slide it. Breathable rugs after 7 days, once the finish has hardened. Final payment is due when the job’s done.
- Use our free maintenance guide to prevent scratches and wear. Inspect floors regularly, especially high-traffic areas, and use our clean/recoat service every 3–5 years to extend floor life and save money.
- If you spot something in the finish, tell us within 3 days while it’s easy to correct. We follow the NWFA’s inspection guidelines, and because we keep a record of every job, follow-ups are quick.
Not sure what your floors need?
Call or text Ken at 717-320-6393. He'll ask about the rooms, how you use them, and what you're hoping for, and tell you honestly whether you need a refinish, a recoat, or nothing yet. Photos help. Nobody comes out until it makes sense to.
Prefer to write it down? Use the quote form and Ken will call you back.